Arlington girls track place third at league meet

Twelve Arlington girls had district-qualifying performances in at least one individual event, helping lead the Eagle girls track team to a third-place finish at leagues in Oak Harbor.

By Danielle Szulczewski • May 19, 2009 6:11 pm
From left
From left

OAK HARBOR — Twelve Arlington girls had district-qualifying performances in at least one individual event, helping lead the Eagle girls track team to a third-place finish at leagues in Oak Harbor.

While Arlington produced no conference champions, they had girls qualify to move on in 14 out of 18 events, finishing behind Marysville-Pilchuck and Stanwood.

Led by senior Shelby Townsend’s three district-qualifying finishes, Arlington tied Cascade for third place out of nine league teams.

Townsend placed second in the pole vault, clearing 10-0 while placing in the top eight in the long jump and triple jump, the barometer to continue on to the district meet at Shoreline Stadium May 20 and 22.

A two-time state veteran, Ginny Wilson qualified for districts in the girls long jump, where she took sixth place, and the high jump, where she placed second. Sophomore Stephanie Van Slageren also qualified in two events, placing third in the javelin, one of only four girls to throw over 100 feet with a best mark of 113-5, and in the pole vault where she placed seventh.

Freshman Teresa Wadey followed a seventh-place finish in the 1,600 with a finals- and district-qualifying run in the 800 prelims, placing sixth in finals.

Sophomore Kylene Swegle was a double qualifier as well, placing sixth in both the 100 hurdles and the high jump, while Melissa Webb qualified in the long jump and triple jump.

Freshman Megan Abdo closed in on her personal best in the girls shot put from a week earlier, throwing 36-0 to place third, while senior captain Amanda Wregglesworth continues her season in her favored event, placing third in the 300 hurdles with a personal best time of 47.70.

On the boys side, sophomore James Clark was a double qualifier for districts, placing fourth in the boys 3,200 and seventh in the 1,600. Other big finishes included freshman Blake McPherson in the javelin, whose 175-1 was a half a foot off from his personal best, good for second place. Freshman Max Bryson cleared 5-10, well below his personal best of the season but still finished in third place, while senior A.J. Richardson placed fifth in the same event, clearing 5-8.